Friday, May 30, 2014

Circa 1890's hand painted parade ribbon for the Crosby Hose Fire
Company, identifying its foreman as W.M. Weed. The company was located
in Corry, Pennsylvania, near Union City, about 20 miles from the first
Pennsylvania oil wells in Titusville. It was a very active company that
had its own traveling athletic team, band and marching unit. This large
folk art ribbon features a winter scene of an early wooden oil derrick,
one of the major concerns of these fire companies. A rare survivor with
an unusual subject matter!

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Auction House description:
Adolph Schauder emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1893. He
settled in the northern Wisconsin town of Rhinelander. Adolph brought
nothing with him other than leather so he could reestablish himself as a
shoemaker and provide for his family. He was able to purchase a two
story building in downtown Rhinelander on Brown Street. His shop was on
street level and the family living quarters were directly above. Four
generations continued this business until it was closed in 1989 having
operated for 96 years. There were no heirs to inherit and continue the
business. It is not exactly clear when Adolph had this incredible trade
sign created, but we have been told by family members that it was
created and put in place in the earliest part of the 20th century. At
some point, the shoe was taken down from its outside display area and
relegated to the basement. A family member recalls that often on the
Fourth of July, the shoe would make an appearance in the town parade
with family members strapping it to the roof of the car for all to see
and remember. After the shoe store closed, the new owner of the building
held an auction to dispose of various items left in the building. The
consignor of this item attended the public auction at the shoe store's
location and was stunned to see this fabulous item that was never even
mentioned in the auction flyer. Due to age and the wish to downsize,
they have decided to liquidate and consolidate their various treasures.
At first appearance, one thinks of this as a boot, but in reality, it
was designed as a shoe and the white glass actually simulates a spat.
The lettering "S&S" is done in burgundy glass and was perhaps meant
to represent Schauder & Son. The heel of the shoe is actually a tin
surround with an opening at the bottom. The top of the shoe has a
covering and most likely at one point had an electrical fixture to light
up the shoe. A hole on the underside of the shoe would allow for easy
access to change the light bulb. Although the actual glass pieces have
not been counted, it must easily be in excess of a few hundred pieces.
As one would expect, there have probably been some aged repairs to some
of the leading and glass tiles, but the piece is firm, solid and intact.
The shoe itself utilized amber colored glass to simulate leather and as
previously discussed, the spat is a creamy white with the burgundy
S&S lettering. The toe area of the shoe employs a different style of
glass being of a green color. Truly an amazing and most important folk
art trade sign to come fresh to the market and undoubtedly a once in a
lifetime opportunity to own a piece of this magnitude.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Katharina was put in a mental
institution in 1907 after supposedly sabotaging a railway line as a
political protest. Before the Nazis murdered her (as a part of Nazi
euthanasia program) in 1941, she wrote a play, tried to establish a home
for babies, protested against the way the inmates were treated, and
created miniature figures out of bread dough she probably chewed
herself. Katharina also made a life-sized male doll out of the mattress
ticking and straw from her bed, which she’d pummel when she was angry or
dance with when she felt happy. This male gave her the surrogate love
she needed in the institute.